Whitney Houston
As I channel-checked through the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) station on 12/30/99, I noticed Whitney Houston singing. On TBN? I’ve never seen evidence that she claimed to trust in Jesus, “The Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” What I remember Whitney Houston for was her song, “The Greatest Love of All”, which turns out to be “Self-Love” in the song! What a blasphemy. Houston, it turns out, was taking part in the Dove Awards ceremonies in which “Christian singers” are recognized by the “Christian Music Industry” for their talents and successes.
George Bush
After Houston’s song, Michael W. Smith continued to introduce the Dove Awards program. In the December 17th “USA Weekend” magazine, Smith was asked if he planned to vote for George W. Bush for president. He answered, “I haven’t decided, but he is a good friend of mine. I think he’s a good candidate.” Guess who the next guest on the Dove Awards was? Former President George Bush spoke via a video appearance! Both he and his candidate son are members of the Yale-based, Order of the Skull and Bones.
President Bush then introduced Amy Grant, who, he said, was a good personal friend. He recounted how, when he was president, Amy Grant came to sing at the Camp David presidential retreat and that she was an inspiration.
Amy Grant
Amy Grant sang a song in which she says, “I’ll carry on for the Children of World”. But in the first 15 minutes of the show I never once heard the name of Jesus. All the time I’m wondering why Amy Grant is singing at the Dove Awards and all the previous “Christmas” specials and whether she is doing everything she can to be reconciled to her estranged husband, Gary Chapman.
Yin-Yang
All the time during the show, on the background to the stage is the Dove Award logo. The logo is a Dove with outspread wings, on a pedestal, in a circle. The Doves wings and pedestal are drawn so that the circle is divided into the two tear drops of a Yin-Yang symbol. Some defenders of the Dove Awards may argue that I’m stretching my interpretation too far to insist on seeing a Yin-Yang symbol. But, at a time when the whole world is being united in counterfeit religious vision that is often represented by the occult Eastern mystical Yin-Yang symbol… why would Christians create a logo that even comes close? But, as if to take away any doubt, in the second half of the show, for a short time, the logo was transformed into a clear cut Yin-Yang symbol made of two shades of green.
Chuck Colson
Rebecca St. James spoke of “Life affirming music”. Steven Curtis Chapman hosted a video presentation in which Chuck Colson is saying, “Our hope is in the power of God working through his people.” Of course, that is NOT our hope. Our hope is in Jesus and what Jesus has done for us and is doing in us.
The Pope, Billy Graham, & Celebrity
Jaci Velasquez introduced Kirk Franklin, saying that he had performed for Pope John Paul II and Billy Graham. Michael W. Smith came back on stage to the screams of young girls, just as one might have seen the week before, for the worldly celebrity singing groups, ‘nsync or 98 degrees.
A “Gospel” & Candles
Steven Curtis Chapman spoke about the message in Christian music as being that “God is, God loves, God can be found”. This was the closest anyone came to preaching the Gospel… but this is NOT the Gospel! Point of Grace, a singing group, sang a song about “Keep the candle burning” to a huge audience that appeared to be holding hundreds of candles. Lighting candles is a ritual of growing popularity among evangelicals that is derived from the mysticism of Roman Catholicism and the occult.
Amy Grant’s (ex?) Husband
Then, believe it or not, the estranged husband of Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, sang a song! Something is wrong here. Where divorce is concerned, one or both must be in sin. What are they BOTH doing trying to represent the Lord Jesus if they have not reconciled their marriage! Is there any Godly “adult supervision” in the Gospel Music Association, which sponsors this event? Are there any Godly men who are called to be elders or overseers involved in this “Christian ministry”? Or do they consider it a Christian ministry? Is it just entertainment? Is it just marketing and profits? Is it part of the work of the Church? Is it auxiliary to the Church? Is it “parachurch”?
Twila Paris
Twila Paris sang. She wrote the foreword to a 1996 book by Youth With A Mission’s (YWAM) Ron Boehme. The book was called Restoring America’s Conscience which included chapters called, “Free to Love Yourself”, “Free to Change the World”, and “Holy Living and the Coming Revival”.
Sandi Patti, the Logo, & Closing
Then a video was shown of Sandi Patti singing at a previous Dove Awards, followed by the Dove Awards logo morphing into a Yin-Yang symbol during a subsequent act.
Eventually there was a tribute to Billy Graham. And the show ended with an Amy Grant song and a Steven Curtis Chapman closing.
False Gospel of Keepthefaith.com
During the Dove Awards a website called “Keep the Faith” was endorsed. It has a button on it called, “Secrets of Eternal Life” That link leads you to a page with the following: “We all have personal habits or behavior that we’re not particularly proud of and would like to change. But how often do we think about that in relationship to eternal life in the Kingdom of God? If we don’t feel good about those things while we’re here in this world, how would we feel in the presence of our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom? With God’s help, through faith and the power of prayer, and by taking responsibility to make significant change in our lives, we can look forward to a life that fills the heart with joy…forever.”
This is a false gospel! It doesn’t even mention Jesus Christ our Savior!
Gospel Music Association
The Dove Awards are sponsored by the Gospel Music Association (GMA). On their website is the following:
“The Gospel Music Association is dedicated to educating the public and the music industry concerning the mission and role of gospel music in today’s world. Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association represents more than 5,500 members, including the industry’s foremost vocalists, musicians, songwriters, producers and record company executives”.
A group associated with the GMA is the Christian Music Trade Association who says on their website, “Our goal is to create and maximize opportunities for growth and penetration of the marketplace for music-related products, services & activities which creatively and faithfully communicate the grace and truth of the gospel throughout the world.”
There is so much that could be said about the Dove Awards, The Gospel Music Association, the “Christian Music” industry, the celebrity singers, their message, their example, their influence; and the ties of all of these to the global trends uniting the world in a common religious vision. I’ve made some comment in this article. There are other related articles on my website. And so much more must be said to warn Christians.
Feel free to comment on my observations and conclusions.
Commentary on Current Events – Index
Four Ways Christians Are Deceived
Celebrity Christian Married Couple Separating
Return to Counterfeit Christianity